Ethical Dilemmas Arise as U.S. Startup Offers Genetic IQ Screening for Elite Couples

A U.S. startup is reportedly giving affluent couples the opportunity to screen embryos for genetic IQ and other desirable traits. This controversial offering has ignited a heated debate on ethical considerations surrounding genetic selection technologies.

What Heliospect Genomics Is Offering

Heliospect Genomics is charging as much as $50,000 for the screening of 100 embryos. The company claims that its innovative technology can assist couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in selecting embryos with IQ scores that are six points higher, or more, compared to children conceived naturally, as reported by The Guardian.

Revelations from Undercover Footage

Recent undercover footage has revealed that Heliospect has already collaborated with over a dozen couples. During a video call in November 2023, CEO Michael Christensen explained the potential benefits of their screening technology. “Everyone can have all the children they want, and they can have children that are disease-free, smart, healthy; it’s going to be great,” he stated, according to the report.

Experimental Genetic Selection Techniques

On these calls, Heliospect employees guided prospective parents through the various experimental genetic selection techniques offered by the company. An employee detailed how couples could employ polygenic scoring to evaluate and rank embryos based on factors such as IQ, sex, height, and risks of obesity and mental illness, as highlighted by The Guardian.

Data Source and Legal Context

Heliospect claims its prediction tools leverage data from the UK Biobank, a publicly funded genetic database with over half a million British participants. This repository facilitates health-related research for approved scientists around the world.

In contrast, while UK law prohibits parents from selecting embryos based solely on predicted high IQ, such practices remain legal in the U.S., even though the technology is still under development.

Concerns from Experts

Experts, including geneticists and bioethicists, have voiced serious concerns regarding the ethical implications of selecting embryos based on favorable genetic traits. They caution that this could perpetuate harmful ideas of